Seasonal house call · Winter
Norovirus Winter Berlin
Norovirus Winter Berlin is a seasonal health occasion for which RAB Arztbesuche provides a licensed physician on a home visit anywhere in Berlin — daily from 6 am to midnight, usually within 60 to 90 minutes.
Norovirus is Berlin's infamous winter GI bug. Highly contagious, with stormy vomiting and watery diarrhoea, often in clusters — families, daycares, care homes, hotels. We come to the house, avoid unnecessary practice or hospital contacts and treat patients at home when medically reasonable.
Medically reviewed by Susanne Reiche · Last reviewed
Norovirus in Berlin — the winter season
The Robert Koch-Institut reports thousands of Berlin norovirus cases each year, peaking December to February. Characteristic: short incubation (often under 24 hours), stormy onset with vomiting, watery diarrhoea, 24 to 72 hours duration. Highly contagious via contaminated surfaces, aerosols during vomiting, hands and food. Families, daycares, hotels and care homes often see clusters.
On a house call we assess severity — dehydration, fever, comorbidities — and decide on therapy. Most cases need only oral rehydration and an anti-emetic; for severe dehydration or risk patients we infuse on site. We bring protective clothing to avoid worsening household spread and advise on hygiene.
Household hygiene measures
Norovirus survives on surfaces for days. Wash hands with soap (not just disinfectant — alcohol-based agents work poorly against norovirus), disinfect toilets and door handles with virucidal cleaners, wash contaminated laundry at 60 °C, isolate the ill person in a separate room when possible. The ill person should not prepare food for two days after symptoms end.
When hospital is needed
Severe dehydration with altered consciousness, circulatory collapse, persistent vomiting with no fluid intake over 24 hours, anuria, or infants with no tear production — call 112 or go to hospital. For risk patients with kidney or heart failure, inpatient care is often sensible.
How the norovirus house call works
Call, describe symptoms, onset and whether several family members are affected. We bring protective gear and agree on a time window — typical arrival 60 to 90 minutes.
On site: history, vitals, volume status, blood glucose if needed, therapy. We use anti-emetics (oral, sublingual or IM), oral rehydration, IV fluids if needed. Sick leave and a GOÄ invoice are issued.
Emergency? Dial the emergency number
If unconscious, with severe chest pain, breathlessness or heavy bleeding, dial 112 immediately. Our service complements the emergency services — it does not replace them.
Case profiles
Typical scenarios
Family cluster
Father has been ill for a day, mother starts vomiting, children follow. We come once and treat everyone.
Care-dependent person at home
Older patient with comorbidities, high dehydration risk. We infuse on site and coordinate with the care service.
Hotel guest
International traveller falls ill in the hotel. We treat in the room and coordinate with the hotel on isolation and cleaning.
Daycare worker
Several children in the daycare are ill, now the carer too. We treat and advise on return to work (48 hours symptom-free before food/childcare work).
Frequently asked questions
How long is norovirus contagious?
Most infectious at symptom onset, but virus shedding often continues 7 to 14 days after symptoms end. Anyone in food or care work should be at least 48 hours symptom-free before returning — Berlin law requires it (IfSG §42).
Does alcohol disinfectant work against norovirus?
Only partially. Norovirus is a non-enveloped virus, resistant to standard alcohol disinfection. Thorough soap-and-water handwashing and virucidal surface disinfectants are more effective.
Do I need antibiotics?
No. Norovirus is viral — antibiotics are ineffective and not indicated. Treatment is rehydration and symptom relief.
Must norovirus be reported to authorities?
Suspected and confirmed cases must be reported by the physician under IfSG. In community institutions the facility must also report. We handle the medical notification.